The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-24
Select STORY.
MY CHRISTMAS GIFT.

On Christmas morning the steamer was
expected, and on Christmas Eve, after leav-
ing the Office, went to inquire if she had
been sighted, when to my surprise | found
she had already reached the dock and land
ed her passengers, having made an unusually
quick trip. There was nothing for me to
do but to hasten home, make my apologies
to Aunt Helen, and assure her that | had
been driven with business, or | should have
inquired for her earlier in the day, no mat
ter whether the steamer was expected or
not.
l would not for the world have seemed to
slight Aunt Helen, for my brother Earnest
and owed our education-yes even our
bread and butter for many years-and our
successful start in business, to her. And
now that we were well launched upon the
sea of prosperity, wished more than ever
to show her every possible attention, there
fore, my vexation was great when | found
she had been obliged to make her way alone,
and after an absence of several months, too.
Still, she was a woman who never made her.
self miserable about fancied sights, and |
felt assured of her forgiveness.
"My dear Aunt l cried, for she heard
my latch-key in the door and hurried out
to meet me, "you know l would not have
missed you for"
It was impossible for me to finish my
apology-or, rather, since Aunt Helen in
terrupted it by kissing me half dozen
times, finished it by returning her kisses.
"Don't let it trouble you for moment"
she said. "We came so Unexpectedly early,
nobody met anybody, so l didn't even seem
forlorn. And as it was time for you to leave
your office, came directly home. Of
course I could not get my trunks tonight;
perhaps, being Christmas, ! cannot get
them tomorrow. But it matters little.
have brought handsome watch for Ear
nest, and seal ring for you which every
body exclaims about, so | hope you will like
ii; these l have with me. And have
something else with me, Rich, Christmas
gift for you which for the present / do not
wish mentioned as gift, except between
us alone. And oh, Richard, do think it
is worthy of you. Idon't believe should
have brought her, else"
aHerl" exclaimed in deep astonishment
unable to guess whether Aunt Helen meant
cat, a bird, or anything else that might
be of the feminine gender, woman for in
stance,-or whether, in her haste to tell me
everything in moments space of time she
had mixed her personal pronouns inadyer-
tently.
sI knew you would be surprised; for,
dearly as loved her, had no thought of
bringing her with me until at the last; !
should certainly have written you about her
otherwise. She is not relative of yours,
Rich, though she is my niece; you see she
is the child of my husbands brother, and
you are my sisters son. Don't you recol-
lect, Rich, your uncle Johns brother Viii
liam, who married in Germany and brought
home wife who could not speak word
of English?" M
1 was obliged to confess that / had for
gotten, that was, if | ever knew; and just
then Aunt Helen remembered that it was
before was born, and excused me for lack
of memory.
"They went West,n she continued, ''and
lived there ten years or more, and then
William died, and his wife went back to
Germany and took Lila with her. Lila
was scarcely more than baby, although
she speaks English well.
sit is Lila then, you have brought with
you" / said, not all sure l was right.
Certainly. Her mother died three
months ago, and there was not very much
money left; and as Lila had no relatives
nearly enough related to make their objec-
tion of any moment, have brought her
home with me to be my own daughter, not
for month or year, but forever and a
day. And Rich, / brought her chiefly
because she is really the sweetest girl |
know, and / need her less for daughter
than you need her for wife.
"Why, Aunt Helenl Have you turned
matchmaker. at this late day"
aDon't laugh at me, Rich, and don't
speak of it after tonight unless you find you
care for her. And then"
Here Earnest came rushing in, having
just heard Of the arrival Of the steamer;
and his coming prevented my saying what
/ really felt / ought to say, that had no
thought Of marrying, as yet that my affec-
tions were somewhat unstrained, and more
than likely to grow in the wrong direction,
| if disposed to grew at all Butshe seemed
] SO absolutely happy in contemplating the